The Memory Machine

Abstract

Abstract

               The purpose of this paper aims to discuss the suitability of material for the animated documentary, looking specifically at texts of a biographical nature, and discussing the mechanisms employed and issues with interpreting oral narratives and memory. From the analysis, I aim to suggest guidelines to my Thai undergraduate animation students so that they may gain ideas about the suitability of material and mechanisms that may help to create an animated documentary.

               The paper will discuss materiality:

               i)   in terms of animation and it’s suitability for documentary.

               ii)  with regard to the subject material to tackle an animated documentary

               iii)  in relation to creating a story structure from oral narratives and memories  and the mechanics of construction to get an authentic truth in an animated documentary

            Because the nature of animated documentaries is so broad, I have, for this paper, narrowed it to the sub category: subjective autobiographical and biographical works that encapsulate personal oral narratives from memories. I will focus on traumatic memories, which retell a event from a personal perspective, which is skewed by the teller’s own perspective in order to discuss the difficulties of memory itself. This category offers many examples of works to support further analysis and investigation by the students and appears to be particularly suited to the animated form.